The fever raged for two relentless days, and Arion abandoned all pretense of the stern, unyielding trainer. He was simply a parent tending to his sick child. The planned journey, the long-awaited vengeance, the distant political war, all faded into irrelevance outside the warm circle of their furs.
The fever had a curious effect on Aiden. The intense pressure of the overtraining dissolved, leaving the four year old childish and clingy, completely reliant on his father. The little alpha who had worried about being "strong" and "not complaining" was replaced by a sweet, demanding boy.
"Papa, stay." Aiden's voice was a soft, insistent whisper, his blue amber eyes cloudy with fever as he watched Arion even when he just reached for a fresh basin of water. He refused to let Arion out of his sight, whimpering in distress if Arion moved more than an arm's length away.
"I'm right here, my heart," Arion murmured repeatedly, his usual warrior's detachment softened into a constant, soothing rumble. He spent the entire two days with Aiden curled against his side, his large frame a shield against the boy's chills. Arion fed him sips of water and herbal infusions, changing his sweat soaked clothes, his entire being focused on the tiny, fragile life in his arms.
The rest of the time, Aiden slept a lot more than usual, his body desperately trying to mend the damage. When he did wake, his feverish calls for "Papa!" were immediate. And when Arion managed to coax him into eating, Aiden demonstrated a surprising, ravenous appetite.
"More stew, Papa," he'd mumble, chewing slowly but deliberately. "More! I need to eat it all so I can be strong quickly!"
It was during these waking moments that the full, uncomplicated force of Aiden's love for Arion shone through. Sick and vulnerable, Aiden didn't push away; he became incredibly sticky with Arion, demanding continuous contact. He would trace the prominent veins on Arion's wrist, bury his face in the soft fabric of his tunic, or simply hold onto his father's belt with a tight, desperate grip.
"You're warm, Papa," Aiden whispered, his voice muffled against Arion's chest. "You feel safe. I truly and really love you, Papa. More than my sword."
The confession was a sweet, devastating blow to Arion. He loved Aiden fiercely, an emotion that had grown from grim obligation to protective devotion, but the weight of his own betrayal,the fact that he had kept his son's heritage a secret and pushed him so hard , made accepting that love feel undeserved. He simply held his son tighter.
"I love you too, Black Tiger," Arion replied, the words thick with unexpressed emotion. "You are my whole world."
Aiden didn't understand the complexity of his parents' relationship, the political danger of his own blood, or the anguish Arion carried. He knew only the man who had raised him, fed him, and protected him, the man who, even when he demanded hard work, was always there, stuck close when it truly mattered.
The fever finally broke on the morning of the third day. Arion woke to find his tunic damp, not with feverish sweat, but with the cool condensation of a lowered temperature. Aiden was sleeping peacefully, his breathing even and deep, his skin clammy but cool.
When Aiden finally stirred and opened his eyes, they were clear, bright blue amber again, free of the fever's haze. He looked at Arion, a huge, triumphant grin spreading across his face.
"Papa! Papa! It's gone!" Aiden shouted excitedly, scrambling up in bed. "I told you I was strong! I beat the sickness! We can go now! I'm ready to be your shadow and defeat the Serpent!"
The pure, innocent faith and boundless energy were back, but they were now layered over a deep, affirmed attachment to his father. Arion looked at the boy,his son, the living embodiment of his past, and the only hope for his future. The moment of softness had passed, but the lesson remained. Kyon's fight could wait. Aiden's well being came first. Arion knew he could not start the war until his little alpha was completely recovered and understood the true meaning of the mission. They would leave, but only when they were both completely ready.
" does that mean that we have sleep outside the exile house like training?, papa" Aiden ask tilting head
" yeah, my black tiger nd now will be getting ready to flee far then just a feet away from the exile house, and we will be heading to west but if everything turn wrong then we will change paths from the main road to the other side of it"
Aiden nod and start helping Arion picking up useful equipment and stuff .